Air signaling apparatus



(No Model.) 2 'sheets-smet 1.

Gg. WILLIMIS AIR SIIGNALING APPARATUS.

N0. 446,275. *Pabienil'edFeb. 10, 1891.

f ATTORNEYS 2 sheetssheet 2.

(No Model.)` .A

' G. B. WILLIAMS.

AIR SIGNALI'NG APPARATUS'.

Patenten Feb. 1o, -1891.

A TTOHNE YS ni: Nmms PETERS cb., muro-Lyme., wAsumu'roN, DY c.

UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.'-

GEORGE BAYLEY lVILLIAMS, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

AIR SIGNALINGAPPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,275, dated February Y10, 18,91. Application led January 14; 1890. Serial No. 336,879. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE BAYLEY VIL- LIAMS, of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Air Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a full',clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved air signaling apparatus which is'simple and durable in construction, very eectivean'd reliable in operation, and specially designed to transmit accurately and promptly any desired signals from the conductor to the engineer of the train by means of compressed air.

The invention consists principally of a conductors valve of special construction and of a Whistling device controlled from the said conductors valve.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar figures and letters of refer-- eiice indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure I is a side elevation of the improvement as applied, parts being in section. Fig, v

2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the whistling device. Fig. is a like view of a moditied form of the same, and Fig. et is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the conductors valve.

Air signaling apparatus of the t-ype as now used, of which the lVestinghouse apparatus is the best-known example, is uncertain and unreliable in its action on account ot' radical defects in its construction. One defect consists in there being no automatic regulation of the amount of compressed air to be exhausted from the signaling-pipe through the conductors valve for each time it is desired to sound the signaling-whistle. Another defeet consists in the signaling-reservoir pressure being exerted on a piston or diaphragm in opposition to the signaling-pi pe pressure on its opposite side,the result being that when `an unreasonable amount of air isexhausted from the signaling-pipe for the purpose of Ycausing one sound of the signaling-Whistle it requires so long a time for the signaling-reservoir pressure to be reduced a like number of pounds by escaping through the signalingwhistle that any attempt to canse one or more additional sounds of the Whistle only results lin one long meaningless sound. A third defeet resulting from it is that the pressures in signaling pipe and reservoir may be so greatly reduced in short trains by unreasonable exhausts as to leave no reliable and effective 0perative pressure in either.

In order lto remedy the foregoing-recited defects in myinvention, I provide, irst, a conductorssignaling-valve, in which the exhaust from the signaling-pipe is automatically regulated by means of a trigger device; secondly, a Whistling-valve or engineers signalingvalve, the operative pressure for moving piston or diaphragm of same in oppositionto the pressure in the signaling-pipe being used for no other purpose, and is contained in a chamber small enough to have such pressure quickly reduced to an equality with the pressure in the signaling-pipe aft-er each sound of the signaling-whistle; thirdly, a secondary connection between the main reservoir and the signaling-valve in order that the mainreservoir pressure may be used for sounding the Whistle.

This apparatus, presently tobe described,

may also be employed in signaling operations generally both in connection With or as'part of a stationary apparatus.

tive is provided at one end with a reducingvalve B, connected by the pipe() With the whistlingdevice D, from which leads av pipe E to awhistle F of anyapproved construction. The Whistling device D is also connected by a pipe G directly with the signaling-reservoir A, as plainly shown in Fig. l. The pipe II leads from the pipe C to the several cars of the train, and from this pipe extend the branch their upper endsthe conductors signalingvalve J.

The Whistling device D is provided with a casing K, on the lower end of which is secured a cap L by bolts N. j

In the casing K is arranged the diaphragm 5, similarin construction to the Westinghouse device, and comprising the tWo disks 3l and 32, screwed together at the center and holding between them the iiexible diaphragm 30.

The seating of nut 2G on diaphragm 5 is also though primarily designed for use on trains,-

The signaling-reservoir A on thel locomo- I* pipes I,one on each car and supporting at loo the saine as in the Testinghouse device, as are also `the spring 8 and the .passages 27, 28, and 29 between chambers 2 and 3, formed in the said casing K by the diaphragm 5. Into the chamber 2 leads the aperture 1, connected with pipe C.

The stem G is provided with a collar 25 and slides loosely in a check-valve 7, and the joint is kept packed by the combined action lof spring and air pressure exerted on metallic washer 9, seated on packinglO. A secondary packing 21l is applied where the stem 6 is screwed into an enlarged part ofthe same, which contains leakage-grooves 23 and either a slot or outside grooves lllfor engaging the end'of lever 33, pivoted on pin 12 and workingin -a Achamber 24. The opposite end of lever '33 is adapted for moving pin 13, vheld to Aslii'dein the upper ypart of casing K and connected with .a valve 14, fheld on its seat by a spring 15, resting Wit-h its upper end on cap O. The seat of valve .14 is connected at its Aloweren-d with lt-heipassage 1.7, leading to pipe E, wh-ile .the upper end of 'the seat connects with passage 16, -leading lto pipe G. 'l/Vhen tjh'elever moves the pin 13 upward, the valve 14 is unseated, the spring 15 is compressed, and `the pressure in the reservoir A is overcome, thus .allowing air from the reservoir A 'to pass through pipe G, :passage 16,` past check-valve 14, through .passage ,17 and pipe tothe signaling-Whistle F.

1n order to prevent the escape of `compressed 'air :from the reservoir Apast .pin 13 and through cham/'ber 24 to the atmosphere, a .packing 18 fis interposed, and the shoulders 129 .in ycasing and y2O on pi-u 13a-reso arranged vthat they will be :in vthe same planfeand iiush 'anda tight joint insured whenever valve 14 is forcedA open. The exhaust-valve 7 may be located elsewhere, be `actuated by suitable leverage,andrcausean exhaust from kchamber either to the atmosphere or into-chamber 2 -or -si-gfna-ling-pipe Withoutzdepartin g from lthe spirit of my invention, the stem 6, however,

being :suitably packed air-tight, as shown.

The Voppositeend ofstem' may be used for forcing Aopen valve 14 directly, as shown in Fig. 3, without the intervention of leverage,l Without-departing from the spirit of my invention, passages 16 `and .17, as well :as valve 14, spring 15, Sand plug O .being in such case at tlhfe opposite end of valve and .included in :cap L instead of Ain lcasi-ng K.

The yreservoir A, ias shown in Fig. 1, is the usual mai-n reservoir; but it is evident that Vthe pressure in any other .suitable reservoir,

either of air or steam, including the main airpipe, may be used for sound-ing the whistle without :departing from the spirit ot' my invention, which consists'. essentially, in 'obtainling pressure lfor sounding the `whistle from anyadeqna'te source vwhatever except from. the chamber 3,01' the chamber which contains the pressure which actua-tes the diaphragm, so las yto result :in th-esoundiing of the whistle.

The conductors valve J .is constructed as A pin 49 rests on valve 50, and a fric-l tion-lever 47, pivoted on pin 48, rests on pin 49. Lever 43, pivoted on pin 44, has a wheel 45, pivoted on pin 46, which rest-s on lever 47. The casing P has flanges in which are bearings for stem 34, which is held in place by caps R and S, which are fastened to the anges by means of bolts T and U. The partof stem moving in bearings S is. preferably rectangular, while the part of stem that moves in bearing R is preferably circular in section. Stem 34 is held in its normal position by a spring 36 pressing against the annularsh'oulder 37 on the oneend andagainst iiange 1of casing 'and cap .R at the other end.

Ina slot in stern 34 is a trigger device' 38, pivoted on :pin 39, and held to .its ynorri-ra'l ipo- Sition by means of flat steel spring4l,-fas'tened to stem 34 lby means of bolt 4or 'screw 42, `said trigger 38 'being adapted .to actu-'ate llever 43 and .unseat valve 50 Whenever thest-em `is pulled .in the direct-ion of thearroW-by means of a vsignaling-rope fastened through hole 35.

Dotted 'lines 58 and 59 indicate flanges through which are passed bolts to se'c'urethe valve in position.

The operation of thefconduc'tors signalingvalve is as follows: It bein'gdesired to reduce the pressure inthe signaling-pipe for thepu-rpose of causing the signaling-whistle tobe IOO sounded, the conductor pulls 'the signaling f 34 ythe trigger 38 will vpass entirely lby lever 43, when the'combined springandcompressedair pressure exerted on valve 50 willl'seat'said valve and `force pin 49 and levers L7-and 43 bac-k to their normal positions. vThe strain on signaling-cord being slackened, the spring 3G will force stem 34 back to its normal 4po's'ition, earrying'trigger 38 past lever 43, th'e trigger 38'on the .way being forced back into `slot 40, so .as lto readily pass lever 43,-and`this having been -done the trigger 38 is forced lolitward again to `its normal position 'bymeansof spring 41, .after which the operation 4can be repeated with similar results 'as many 4times as .may be desired. g

The use of wheel 451and lever. 47can bed-ispensed with Without departing i rom t-he=spirit fof `my invention; also, slide, `rotar or gate -valves :may be actuated bya trigger device,

so :as -to `automaticallyregulatethe amoun-tof eac-h .separate exhaust from the signalingpipe Vwithout departing Pfrom the spiri'tofmy invention.

The several parts of my invention are capable of being used separately in combination with other kinds of air signaling apparatus, and are as much included in my invenwill carry stem 6 in the same direction. Stem 6 4o #sound of the whistle.

will move freely through check-valve 7, which will remain seated by means ofthe air-pressure in chamber 3 and the expansive force of spring 8 exerted on washer 9 after the same has been relieved from the pressure of collar 25 on stem 6. The first result of the outward movement of diaphragm 5 and stem 6 is that lever will be moved-by means of the engaging- 'slot 11 in stem G,so as to force pin 13 against valve l4 and open the latter, so that air will pass from the signaling-reservoir through passages 1G and 17 to the signaling-whistle and sound the latter. The further outward movement of diaphragm 5 and stem 6 will bring packing 21 against check-valve 7, forcing same open and allowing the air in chamber 3 to be exhausted to the atmosphere through leakage-grooves 23 and chamber 24 till the pressures in chambers 2 and 3 are equal, or nearly so. The first result of the reduction of pressure in chamber 3 through the exhaust of same to the atmosphere will be the seating of valve 14 and the cessation of Whenthe pressures in chambers 2 and 3 have become equal, the check-valve 7 will again be seated and the apparatus will all be in its normal position. By this time also the trigger device attached to conductors signaling-valve J on the car will have been carried back to its normal position and have a new grip on the valve, so that when t-he cord is again pulled the valve will be again opened with preciselythe same results as before, the sounding of the whistle F included.

i These results are reliable and certain, regardless of the number of pounds of air-pressure there may bein chambers 2 and 3 at the time. Vhenever the pressures are equal, the apparatus is in its normal position, whatever the pressure'may1 be. Vhen the pressure in chamber 2 is reduced and the diaphragm moves I out sufficiently to sound the whistle, it will as certainly move farther till it opens valve 7 and causes a reduction of pressure in chamber 3, which reduction will cease when the pressure in chamber 3 equals the pressure in chamber 2, and the apparatus will then be in its normal position, as shown. The action of the mechanism is not tardy, because it is in no way dependent on the flow of air to the signaling-whistle. When the pressures in chambers 2 and 3 become somewhat depleted, as soon as the signaling is-over the pressure in signaling-pipe and chamber 2 is gradually restored to the maximum. This equalizes into chamber 3, because while nut 26 cannot move farther inward the diaphragm 5 is forced away from same, which allows air from chamber 2 to pass through passages 27, 28,4 and 29 into chamber 3 till thepressures in chambers 2 and 3 have equalized, ornearly so, when the expansion of spring 8 will cause diaphragm 5 to seat against nut 26. The inner movement of diaphragm 5 is limited by its sleeve coming in contact with collar 25 of stem G, at which time the disk 31 will also seat.

l-Iavin g. thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an air signaling` apparatus, the combination, with the whistlin g or signaling valve, ofthe conductors valve comprising a case'having passages 54 57, valve 50 therein, spring 55,which holds valve 50 to its seat and closes the communication between the passage 54 to the train-signaling pipe and the exhaust to the atmosphere through passage 57, the trigger operating stem 34 and its spring 36, catch 38 and `its spring `41, and with levers 43 47 and pin 49, or other suitable connections between trigger device and valve 50 to automatically limit the exhaust from train-signaling pipe 54 when the conductor pulls the sigmaling-cord attached to stem 34 at 35, substantially as shown and described.

IOO

2. In an air signaling apparatus, the combination, with the whistling or signaling valve, of

the conductors valve comprising a valve normally seated and severing the communication between the train-signaling pipe and the atmosphere, with a trigger device' for operating said valve to automatically limit the exhaust from the train signaling pipe to the atmosphere when said valve is opened by pulling the signaling-cord, substantially as shown and described. I

3. The combination,in an air signaling apparatus,with the whistling or signal-sounding valve, of a conductors signaling-valve having an inlet for compressed air, an outlet to the atmosphere, and a valve controlling communication between said inlet and outlet and provided with an operating-lever, an operating-stem provided with a pivoted trigger, into the path of which the said lever normally projects, the said trigger being constructed to release the lever when the stem moves in one direction and in the return movement of the stem to be swung outwardly by the end of the lever and again snap under it, substantially as set forth.

4. In an air signaling apparatus, the vcom- IIO bination, with the conductors valve, of at whistlingvalve comprising a casing, the diaphragm 5, held within the casing, the chamber 2 at one end of said diaphragmI in communication with the train-signaling pipe, the supplemental chamber or reservoir 3 at the opposite side of the casing, the passages 27, 28, and 29 ybetween chambers 2 and 3, the spring 8, the stem 6, and' check-valve 7, closing passages 23 to atmosphere, with valve 14, normall7 held to its seat bysprin g 15, to sever the communication between the main reserlVoir through passage 16 and the Whistle through passage 17, and connections between stem of diaphragm 5 and Valve 14 for the purpose of forcing open Valve 14 and allowing the main-reservoir pressure to flow into pas sage 17 and sound Iche signaling-Whistle coincidenily With a sufficient reduction of pressure in train-signaling pipe 1, caused by opening said oonduotors valve, substantially as shown and described. y

In an air signaling apparatus, the combination, with the conductors valve, of a Whistling-valve comprising a casing, the diaphragm, vheld Within the casing and provided communication only with the signaling-pipe and the atmosphere, the passages 27, 28, and 29 between chambers 2 and 3, the spring S, the check-valve 7, the passages or grooves 23,

leading from chamber 3 to atmosphere, the 'check-Valve 14E, its operating-pin 13 in line with said stem, spring 15, passage 16 from main air-reservoir, and passage 17 to Whistle controlled by said check-valve, substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE BAYLEY WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

F. M. STEPHENS, A. D. ANTHONY. 

